In a recent interview with Hank Phillippi Ryan, best selling author, I heard her give a GREAT answer to why you don’t start a novel with backstory. Let’s say you are going to tell a friend a story about what happened to you at the pool today. How do you start? When I was seven,Continue reading “Let me tell you what happened to me at the pool yesterday OR why you don’t open a novel with backstory”
Category Archives: Book Reviews
Book Review: The Fury by Alex Michaelides
I cannot lie, I like a dark and twisty tale. Having read The Maidens, a previous novel by this author, I was willing to give this one a go. So glad I did! This one is much more well developed than The Maidens, which I found a little predictable. The Fury is like Agatha ChristieContinue reading “Book Review: The Fury by Alex Michaelides”
New Podcast Episode: The Mystery Guest
Take a listen to this shorty episode about a highly anticipated sequel. There are a few nuggets in it for writers to be aware of as they strive to give readers an elevated experience.
Book Review: If We Were Villains by M. L. Rio
I have had my eye on this one for a while. It has been staring at me from the English Language shelves in my favorite Tallinn bookstore, and the best bookstore in the world, Rahva Raamat for quite some time. Two things tipped me over the threshold to go ahead and buy…1. It was onContinue reading “Book Review: If We Were Villains by M. L. Rio”
New Podcast Episodes
Take a listen to some new book discussions! If you’re working on your writing goals for 2024, try out the goal calculator below.
New Read Like a Writer Episode
Take a listen to hear a discussion of the Scarlet Pimpernel and how it questions notions of class…
Book Review: House of Doors by Tan Twan Eng
Long listed for the 2023 Booker, The House of Doors is a novel that tries to do a lot of things, and mostly succeeds in doing them well. It is a tragic tale of colonial society in Malaysia, with a dash of true crime and a side helping of if literary fan fiction based onContinue reading “Book Review: House of Doors by Tan Twan Eng”
Throwback Thursday: Leave the World Behind
I read this a couple of years ago, but maybe you missed this hidden gem…
New Podcast Episode: Vanity Fair
Take a listen to this solo episode to hear how Thackeray used opposing trajectories in his heroines to keep the narrative drive going…
Book Review: The Dutch House
Ann Patchett is a member of American literary royalty, so I am probably not going to say anything surprising in this review. I recently listened to The Dutch House in preparation for recording a podcast episode. I will admit that it started a little slow. However, since it was read by Tom Hanks, I stuckContinue reading “Book Review: The Dutch House”